Match discharge and transfer



June 12, 1934. SCHAFER 1,962,788

V MATCH DISCHARGE AND TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed Oct. 19, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR olw/ ew w.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. SCHAFER June 12, 1934.

MATCH DISCHARGE AND TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed Oct.

INVENTOR nunun June '12, 1934. F. SCHAFER 1,962,788

MATCH DISCHARGE AND TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed Oct. 19, 1931 5 ShGet-Sheet 3 u m \v June 12, 1934. SCHAFER MATCH DISCHARGE AND TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed Oct. 19, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 12 I934 UNETED STATES l' /IATCH DISCHARGE AND TRANSFER MECHANISM Frank Schafer, Duluth, Minn. Application October 19, 1931, Serial No. 569,688

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for discharging match cards, more especially those that are adapted to be secured within a booklike cover, from an endless conveyor, and transferring them to a booking machine in which the match cards are placed within a suitable cover, stitched together, and discharged ready to pack in a carton.

It is the usual practice in making match cards to make them in six or ten individual card Widths, of ten matches per card, which, after they have been made into matches, are placed in a booking machine two at a time, one upon the other and in which they are then severed into the usual individual card and provided with a cover. In a previous application, I have disclosed mechanism in which match card stock is taken from a roll, severed into bands or widths of individual match cards, these bands made into cards, severed and placed in a carrier which conveys them through the various proc esses necessary to be made into matches, but no discharge mechanism is disclosed therein.

This invention discloses means whereby the cards are discharged two at a time, one upon the other and transferred to the booking machine without the intervention of any manual labor whatever.

I have filed an application for a booking machine, (Serial No. 550,712July 14, 1931) in which two books are made at one time, and this discharge mechanism can be used in combination with this machine but in the illustration used I have shown it as discharging four cards at a time. It is obvious however that ten books can also be discharged at one time if it is desired to use it in combination with a booking machine making this number of books. In the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, eight individual cards are placed in a carrier, moved by a step by step motion to a discharge bar whereby four pairs are discharged at one time into a channel from which they fall onto a plate through which a lug of a conveyor chain moves a pair of cards to a position where by another lug of a faster moving conveyor chain carries the cards forward and allows them to drop in front of a bar which pushes the cards into the cover and also into a conveyor chain.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the mechanism showing it as attached to a booking machine.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View as on lines 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the channel into which the cards are discharged from the carrier.

Fig. 5 is a plan View thereof, looking in the direction of arrow 0, with the top and bottom plates removed.

Fig. 6 is a View of the conveyor'chains shown in Fig. 3, but in a different position.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view thereof.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view as on lines 88 of Fig. 3 with the conveyor chain removed.

Fig. 9 is a sectional View as on lines 99 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows a and b, with certain parts removed from the nearest bar.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of part of Fig. 3 showing the matches discharging into the channel.

Fig. 112 is a plan View of the carrier and guide plate on punch bar.

Fig. 13 is a view of Fig, 12 showing the parts in Fig. 1-2 in a difierent position.

Fig. :14 is a sectional view, as on lines 14-14 of Fig. 12, showing the blades for lining up the carrier bar,

Fig. 15 is an end View showing the on the slide,

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the carrier bar and link.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged end view thereof.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged sectional view, as on lines 1818 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the lug of the conveyor chain.

24: designates the punch bar maindrive shaft, which is rotated by suitable gearing and a motor (not shown) rotating in a bearing 25 to which is secured mitre gear 26 meshing with a similar gear27 secured to shaft 28 rotating in bearings 29. Also secured to shaft 29 is a sprocket30 around which passes chain 31 which also passes around sprocketg;32 secured to shaft 33 rotating in bearings 34 secured to the under side of the bed 35 supported by the standards 36. The shaft 33, bearings 34, bed 35, standards 36 are parts of the booking machine. (See Figs.'12.)

Also secured to shaft 33 is a sprocket 37 around which passes a chain 38 which also passes around sprocket, 39 secured to shaft 40-rotating in bearings in frame 41 which supports the discharge mechanism.

Alsosecured to shaft 40 is a cam i2 'having a groove 43 in which slide rollers 44 rotating on studs 45 which are evenly spaced in a disk 46 secured to shaft 47 rotating in bearings 48 secured to frames 41 and bed plate 49, the lat-' ter resting on frames 41. The contour of the groove 43 of cam 42 is such that during part of its revolution it rotates the disk 46 and then looks it in position for a purpose which will be explained.

Also secured to shaft 47 is a bevel pinion 50 meshing with bevel gear 51 secured to shaft 52 rotating in bearings 53 secured to the top of bed plate 49. (See Figs. 1-2.)

Also secured to shaft 52 are sprockets 54 which mesh with link 55 of carrier bar 56 to which are riveted spring clips 57 clamping the match cards 58 thereto. The parts 5556 and 57 constitute a match carrier and are usually taken as a single unit.

The link 55 of the match carrier slides in suitable ways 59 on the brackets 60 secured to the inside of frames 41 and is held in place by caps 61 (Figs. 1-2310).

The match cards 58 are pushed out of the carrier bar by the forked blades 62 secured in slots in the punch bars 63 secured to a slide 64 reciprocating in ways in bracket 65 secured to bed plate 49 and slide 64 is held in place by caps 66.

Also secured in slots in the punch bar 63 are blades 67 which are somewhat longer than the forked blades 62 and pass over each side of the carrier bar 56 in advance of the forked blades 62 lining this up so that the forked blades will push out the match card without striking the bar 56; the links 55 not being accurate enough for lining up the carrier bar (Figs. 1-2-310-11- 12-13-14-15) Pivoted to the under side of the slide 64 are links 68 which are also pivoted to the upper end of arms 69 of the shaft 70 which rocks in the bearings 71 secured to the top of bed plate 49. 7 Also secured to shaft 70 is an arm '72, at the outer end of which is a stud 73 on which is pivoted a connecting rod '74 which is also pivoted on stud 75 in the end of crank arm 76, secured to shaft 40 (Figs. 1-2-3).

77 designates abracket, the upper side of which is at an angle and from which rise the partitions 78 forming a channel '79 in which the match cards are placed by the movement of the carrier bar and into which they are pushed by the punch bar. A plate 80 is screwed to the I top of the partitions 78 thus forming a tunnel through which the match cards pass and fall upon a plate 81 screwed to the top of a bar 82 which is secured to the top of the booking machine and also extends to the frame 41 where it rests on a bar 83 supported by brackets 84 secured to the inside of frames 41 (Figs. 1-2-3-4- The bracket '77 rests upon plate 81 and is secured through this plate to bar 82; the bracket 7'7 has a recess 85 in which the match cards fall on top of plate 81 and in the center of this plate is a slot 86, (Figs. '?8) through which passes a lug 8'7 of the chain 88 which passes around sprocket 89 secured to shaft 90 rotating in bearings 91 secured to the top of frames 41 (Figs. 1-2-3-6-7).

The chain 88 moves in a groove 92 in the track 82 on which is screwed the plate 81 on which rise the partitions 93 to which is also screwed the plate 80, thus forming a tunnel 94 through which the match cards are pushed by the lugs 90 has secured thereto a gear 95 meshing with gear 96 on shaft 97 rotating in bearings 98 secured to the top of frames 41. Also secured to shaft 97 are sprockets 99 around which pass chains 100 passing around similar sprockets secured to shaft 191 rotating in bearings 102 secured to the top of bed 35 of the booking machine. Also secured to shaft 101 is sprocket 103 around which passes chain 104 which also passes around sprocket 105 secured to shaft 106 rotating in bearings 10'? secured to the underside of bed 35 (Figs. 1-2-3). Also secured to shaft 106 is a gear 107a. meshing with a similar gear 108 secured to shaft 33 which is the main driving shaft of the booking machine.

The chains 88 and 100 are similar as well as the lugs 87 but the spacing is different, that of chain 88 being seven links and chain 100 nine links, the purpose of which will be presently explained.

When the chain 100 passes over the sprockets on shaft 9'7 the lug 87 passes through a slot 7 108a which is located at the right hand end of plate 80 (Fig. 10) and comes just behind the lug of chain 88, pushing two match cards, but as it moves faster than chain 88 it carries the book away from the lug of chain 88 so that when the latter turns around the sprocket 89, the lug 87 will not catch or pinch the ends of the match cards (Fig. 3). It will also be noted that the lugs 87 of chains 100 are spaced wider apart than the lugs 8'? of chains 88 so that the lug of chain 100 will pass the lug of chain 88 (Fig. 7).

The chain 100 wh n pushing the match cards would have a tendency to drag on them and to provide against this, I have provided bars 109 so that the chain 100 will ride on the side links and ends of the rivets, suitable grooves in the bars 109 permitting this, the bars are connected by plates 110 which hold them the proper distance apart and are screwed to the top of partitions 93, the latter screwed to bar 82 through plates 81. A tunnel 111 is formed by late 81, bars 98 and 109, through which the books are pushed by chain 100 (Figs. 3-9-18).

The chain 100 pushes the match card to the end of the plate 81 where it falls in front of a pusher bar 112. A plate 113 having a suitable groove in the end thereof for the passage of the lug 87 of chain 100, is secured to a bracket 114 and forms a tunnel through which the match card is pushed by the bar 112. The bar 112 is reciprocated by mechanism not shown which is part of the booking machine (as is also plate 113, and bracket 114).

The operationis as follows:

Match cards which have been placed in the match carrier, and carried through the process of paraffining and dipping, are carried around sprockets or wheels for a certain length of time to allow the heads to dry, the motion usually being continuous. The match carrier is now brought to the discharge mechanism, as shown in Figs. 1-3, in which the carrier is guided by ways in a bracket and meshing with a sprocket, is moved intermittently to a position where the match cards are punched out of the carrier and into a channel.

The sprockets 54 are moved intermittently through shaft 52, bevel gear 51, bevel pinion 50, shaft 47, disk 46, with its evenly spaced rollers 44 sliding in the groove 43 of cam 42, the contour of which is such that it rotates thasprocket in Figs. 3 and 11. having in the meantime been brought to the during part of a revolution and locking it during the other part. (See Figs. l-2.)

The cam 42 is secured to shaft 40 and rotated by sprocket 39, chain'38, sprocket 37 on shaft 33 of the booking machine. The shaft 33 is rotated by sprocket 32, chain 31, sprocket 30 on shaft 28, mitre gears 27 and 36 and shaft 24, which is rotated by a suitable motor. (Figs. 12.)

The punch bar 63 is reciprocated through slide 64, link 68, arm 69, shaft 70, arm '72, stud 73, connecting rod '74, stud '75, and crank arm 76, secured to shaft 40 to which shaft the cam 42 is also secured as has beenstated.

Referring to Fig. 11, it will be noted that the depending match is in advance of the motion of the carrier, this is so timed that this splint comes against the bracket '77 and due to the movement of the carrier is pushed somewhat towards the other row of matches, the carrier now stops and the slide 64 moving forwards with punch bar 63 and forked blades 62 pushes the matches out of the carrier into the channel 79; it will also be noted that the match cards have passed into the channel '79 and the rising portions '78 of bracket 77 prevent any side movement and that the match heads just pass the end of plate 80 (Fig. 3) and when nearly pushed out of the carrier the heads are inside of the flared portion of the plate 80 (Fig. 11). When completely pushed out, they fall through the tunnel 79 striking against the lug 87 of chain 88 which has been timed so that when it is at this position, the match cards then fall flat (as shown in dotted outline) on the plate 81, and upon the continued motion of chain 88, the lug 87 comes up through slot 86 and pushes the two cards forward to the position as shown The next match carrier proper position, the operation is repeated. Every revolution means the movement of one link and the pushing out of two rows of match I cards.

Referring to Figs. 12-13-14, it will be seen that the long blades 67 line up the carrier bar 56 so that the punchout forks 62 will not strike the bar during the discharge of the match cards.

The lug 87 of chain 88 has now carried the match cards forward and when in the position shown in Fig. 3, a similar lug on chain 100 has come around just behind this lug, one chain being above the other, but the upper chain 100 -moves faster and hence carries the cards away 'from the lug 8'7 of chain 88 so that when the latter passes down through the groove 86 of plate 81, it will not catch or pinch the ends of the cards. The chain 88 has the lugs spaced every seven links and the chain 100 every nine 'links. The gears and 96 are of the proper ratio to have the lugs pass one another at the proper time (Figs. 1 and 3).

The sprockets 99 are spaced wider apart so 5 as to allow the lugs 87 to pass one another. 6

taken from some shaft which is part of the booking machine; this is more a matter of con venience as the speed and direction'of' rotation of parts of the booking machine are easily adapted to drive the desired parts of the discharge or transfer mechanism.

It'is also obvious that this mechanism could be used to discharge wide match cards, and transfer them to a booking machine even if not cut up into individual cards.

"It is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the specific mechanism or to the detailsof construction thereof herein illustrated, as the same may be variously modified without departing from the principle of the invention.

' I claim: 4

V 1. Ina discharge mechanism for card matches, means for intermittently moving-an endless carrier, a guideway for the carrier, a reciprocating discharge plate for discharging the match cards from the carrier into a chute, a plate'upon which the match cards fall having a slot therethrough, a movable endless chain having lugs thereon to project through the slot and an inverted chain having lugs thereon moving at a greater speed than that of first mentioned chain for carrying the cards from the first mentioned chain to a position for insertion into a cover.

2. In a discharge mechanism for card matches, means for intermittently moving an endless carrier, a guideway for the carrier, a reciprocating discharge plate for simultaneously discharging two match cards from said endless carrier at an oblique angle into a chute, a plate upon which the match cards fall having a slot therethrough, a movable endless chain having lugs thereon to project through the slot and an inverted chain having lugs thereon moving at a greater speed than that of first mentioned chain and plates on either side of said inverted chain to support same while carrying the cards from the first mentioned chain to a position for insertion into a cover.

3. In a discharge mechanism for card matches, means for depositing a match card on a plate having a slot therethrough, a movable endless chain having lugs thereon to project through the slot for pushing the match card forward, and an inverted chain also having lugs thereon moving at a faster speed to carry the match cards away from the first mentioned chain.

4. In a discharge mechanism for card matches, means for intermittently moving a carrier bar having match cards on the outer surface thereof, a guideway) for the carrier, a reciprocating means having discharge plates for discharging the match cards from the carrier bar, said discharge plates having plates thereon greater in length than the card discharge plates for the purpose of holding and guiding the bar during the discharge of the match cards.

5. In a discharge mechanism for card matches, means for intermittently moving, a carrier bar having match cards on the outer surface thereof, a guideway for the carrier, a reciprocating discharge plate for simultaneously discharging two match cards from an endless carrier into a chute, a plate having a slot therethrough, a movable endless chain having lugs thereon to project through the slot, another endless chain with lugs thereon moving at a speed greater than that of the first mentioned chain and situated above the first mentioned chain; driving sprockets for said lower and upper chains,

the sprockets of the upper chain being set a slight distance from a vertical plane through the lower shaft so that the lugs of the upper chain push the match card away from the lugs of the lower chain as the latter passes around the sprocket and below the surface of the slotted plate. a

6. In a discharge mechanism for card matches, means for intermittently moving a carrier bar having match cards on the outer surface thereof, a guideway for the carrier, a reciprocating discharge plate for simultaneously discharging two match cards from an endless carrier into a chute, a plate having a slot therethrough, a movable endless chain having lugs thereon to project through the slot, another endless chain with lugs thereon moving at an increased speed situated above the first mentioned chain, and a bar to guide and support the chain while pushing the match card.

7. In a discharge mechanism for card matches, means for intermittently moving a carrier bar having cards on the outer surface thereof, means for discharging the cards into a chute, a plate upon which the cards fall having a slot there through, a movable endless chain having lugs thereon to project through the slot, an inverted chain having lugs thereon for carrying the cards away from the first mentioned chain at an increased speed to a position for insertion into a cover. v p

8. In a discharge mechanism for card matches, means for depositing a match card on a plate having a slot therethrough, a movable endless chain having lugs thereon to project through the slot moving the match card forward at a certain speed, an inverted chain having lugs thereon, moving at an increased speed, the lugs of the latter chain carrying the match card away from the first mentioned chain and allowing the match card to fall in front of a pusher reciprocating beneath the aforementioned slotted plate.

FRANK SCHAFER. 

